Chapter 7 Sensational Revelation #2
“I need to make an announcement, of a sort, that I hope will not disrupt too greatly. Jane and Lizzy have informed me that the purpose of our trip to London has been adequately fulfilled, enough, at least, to indulge an old man’s preference for his home.
Additionally, while perhaps a flaw in my character, I have never delighted in city life, even as a young man at university.
My dear daughters have graciously offered to sacrifice their fun and leave on Monday rather than later in the week, as initially planned. ”
“Of course!” Mr. Bingley exuberantly assured.
“Monday is perfect! I understand completely, sir, as I too have grown fond of Hertfordshire. London is my home, so holds a special place in my heart, of course, but the country is charming. Is that not so, Darcy? You have long extolled the virtues of clean air and estate living, which I now can appreciate as never before.”
Darcy gave the briefest of nods to Bingley’s rhetorical question but said nothing.
As the details for departure time, where they would meet, and the like carried on, Lizzy watched Darcy’s face with growing unease.
His expression was neutral, displaying no obvious hint to his thoughts or emotions, yet Lizzy sensed something was not right.
“William,” she whispered as soon as the opportunity arose for a semiprivate conversation, “is something amiss?”
He swung his eyes to her immediately and then dropped them to his plate. “No! Nothing. That is, nothing to worry over. We can discuss it later.”
“I would rather discuss it now, please. My overactive imagination will leap to all manner of ridiculous assumptions. You know it will. Do you really wish to be the cause of that, Mr. Darcy?”
His lips twitched, but he still evaded her gaze. Hesitantly, speaking so low she had to lean closer, he explained, “I do not wish to cause wild speculations but also do not wish to ruin your dinner.”
“A dinner this superb will not ruin, I assure you. Now,”—she flattened her hand atop his, which was fiddling with the edge of his napkin—“look at me and speak plainly.”
Sighing, he did as she asked. His eyes were faintly troubled but more sheepish than anything. “I regret to inform that I shan’t be able to escort you home. I must stay in London on…business.”
“Oh! I see. Well, this is disappointing, of course, but I understand. We have sprung the news suddenly and did plan to stay longer. What business do you have? Or is it more of your secret plotting for my grand entrance into Pemberley?”
“Perhaps,” he hedged. “I have a meeting with my solicitor, Mr. Daniels, on Tuesday for various estate matters. On Wednesday I am meeting with a merchant at the Exchange who is…acquiring select items for me. No, do not ask,” he added when her lips parted.
“However, the main reason is…Well, to be frank, it is a bit embarrassing.”
“Something embarrassed Mr. Darcy? Oh please tell me.”
Smiling, he slid his fingers through hers, the napkin acting as a shield from the sharp eyes of Mr. Bennet at the far end of the table.
“I may regret confessing this, but, as you are aware, I attended a meeting at the Jockey Club last week. It seems that in the excitement over our engagement, it completely slipped my mind that one of the horses bred at Pemberley is competing at Newmarket. I really should not miss… Must you laugh? Have you no pity for my predicament, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Forgive me, but I am imagining the consternation amongst your Jockey Club peers at having anything horse related ‘slip the mind’ of Mr. Darcy. Were they searching the sky for flying pigs?”
“Not that I noticed. Although, now that you mention it, Lord Westingcote did stare out the window for a long while. I thought that the result of Mr. Shelley’s riveting dissertation on the benefits of blue banners over red. What do you think?”
“Of Lord Westingcote’s inattentiveness or the banners?”
“Both.”
“I cannot fathom how a discussion of the vital importance of proper banner color bored any one of sound mind, so his lordship must have been searching the sky for the flying pigs. And obviously red, always red. Unless they plan to invite bulls to the races?”
“We voted against that this year. It was a narrow margin, however, so perhaps blue banners might be safer, in case they revisit the inclusion of bulls another year.”
Lizzy shook her head, laughing softly to avoid drawing undue attention, and squeezed his fingers.
She adored bantering with him, the fun enhanced now that he had learned to relax and explore his surprising propensity to tease and outwit.
“So, an important race is upcoming, and you wish to watch your exceptional Pemberley thoroughbred take the prize. I can find no fault in this perfectly reasonable excuse to stay in town, Mr. Darcy. I suppose if I must share you with other entertainments, horse racing is a worthy choice.”
“Once we wed, you can come with me, Elizabeth. If you wish.”
“I would like that very much. I’ve never been to a horse race, but it must be thrilling. Watching you race certainly is, when I am not frightened half to death by one of your daredevil exploits, that is. I look forward to sharing in those sports and activities you are passionate about.”
“And I you, my dear. Who knows, I may even surpass your skills as a juggler, in time and with serious study.”
Lizzy groaned. “I swear, from this day forward you are forbidden to listen to another word anyone in my family says to you regarding my youth. But, for the record, I did master three balls in the air at once.”
“If only you had persevered, instead of diverting in your quest to conquer shovelboard and become the reigning champion in all of Hertfordshire. How did that endeavor go again?”
Lizzy groaned a second time and briefly covered her eyes.
Grinning, Darcy pressed on. “Imagine the possibilities. You might now be a juggling master performing at Astley’s circus.”
Further joking was interrupted by the next course, Lizzy reluctantly removing her hand from Darcy’s.
Once they were served, Lizzy took advantage of the footman serving Georgiana, who sat beside her, and again leaned toward Darcy, whispering, “I will miss you terribly. No one can tease me as skillfully as you, William. But…that is not the main reason.”
She held his gaze, ensuring he understood her meaning.
His gaze softened and dropped to her lips, and a swiftly indrawn breath confirmed the message was received.
Swallowing, he huskily replied, “I will return on Friday, possibly Thursday evening, if my business concludes. Being parted from you, Elizabeth will be agonizing, so be prepared to make up for the lost time.”
Smiling dreamily, she reminded him, “We still have tomorrow, and for the sake of preventing overwhelming agony, I suggest it wise to find a way to create a stockpile, so to speak. What say you, Mr. Darcy? Does this sound like a feasible plan?”
“Darcy! I have told Miss Bennet of your idea for a walk tomorrow afternoon, and she is most agreeable. Capital, isn’t it?”
Mr. Bingley’s interruption was fortuitous.
Lizzy and Darcy seemed to have some difficulty remembering where they were, and who was around them, a fact that must have been clear, as Richard Fitzwilliam was smirking and Mr. Bennet’s face had a half-amused and half-scolding expression.
Lizzy flashed an unrepentant smile in her father’s direction before diving into her food.
At the same time, Darcy answered Bingley’s question in a steady voice, no trace of being taken unawares or caught in a mild impropriety.
“I thought it would be a nice outing, if the weather holds fair, as I suspect it shall,” Darcy said.
“Grosvenor Gate opens into Hyde Park and is only two blocks away. An easy walk and this area of the park is far less crowded than the Row and south of the Serpentine, especially this time of the year.”
“Oh yes!” Georgiana enthused. “Mrs. Annesley and I walk into the park often, sometimes with a picnic basket and blanket. The trails are maintained, and it isn’t far to the lake. The ducks have probably gone away by now, but the walnut trees lining Park Lane are brilliantly yellow in autumn.”
“The air is fresher in the park,” Mr. Bingley added. “Once past the fence and out amongst the trees, the city scape disappears from view and nature surrounds. A small slice of the country, as it were.”
“I read that cattle and sheep still roam the grasslands. Is this true?”
“Yes, Miss Bennet, it is true. Not wildly or in vast numbers, so no need to worry. And they tend to accumulate in the northwesterly areas.”
“I have seen a handful of cows, although Mr. Bingley is correct that they do not venture this direction often. Hyde Park has an ancient, fascinating history! My brother is knowledgeable of the past details, Miss Elizabeth, which I know will interest you.”
“It does indeed interest me. Thank you, Miss Darcy. As I learned the other day, your brother is well educated on London’s history and has a flair for imparting dry information compellingly.
A pleasant surprise. Plus, it is always nice to know we shall have something to talk about if normal conversation lags. ”
Laughter erupted at this jest, in equal parts due to Mr. Darcy’s well-known reticence, as well as for Lizzy’s penchant for history lessons.
Talk turned to organizing the Hyde Park agenda—which was to begin at two o’clock with a light lunch at Darcy House before setting off to explore—so it was not until the dessert course that Lizzy had another chance to engage Mr. Darcy in a quiet conversation.
“Are you and Miss Darcy attending church tomorrow morning?”
“We are. We usually do, unless a legitimate impediment arises. Do not worry, my dear. We shall be back at the townhouse well before our scheduled luncheon.”